{{Unreferenced, date=December 2009
''Microspermae'' is an order of
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...
s. It is a
descriptive botanical name Descriptive botanical names are scientific names of groups of plants that are irregular, not being derived systematically from the name of a type genus. They may describe some characteristics of the group in general or may be a name already in exi ...
referring to the size of the seed; it was used for the order containing the orchids.
In taxonomical systems this name has now mostly dropped out of use, being displaced by the name ''Orchidales'' (formed from the family name ''Orchidaceae''). The name ''Microspermae'' was used in the Bentham & Hooker and the
Engler system
One of the prime systems of plant taxonomy, the Engler system was devised by Adolf Engler (1844–1930), and is featured in two major taxonomic texts he authored or co-authored. His influence is reflected in the use of the terms "Engler School" and ...
s. The
Wettstein system A system of plant taxonomy, the Wettstein system recognised the following main groups, according to Richard Wettstein's ''Handbuch der Systematischen Botanik'' (1901–1924).
3rd edition (1924)
Outline
Synopsis
* Flagellatae p. 65
* ...
also used a descriptive name, but preferred '' Gynandrae''.
''Microspermae'' in the Bentham & Hooker system
* order ''Microspermae''
*: family '' Hydrocharideae''
*: family ''
Burmanniaceae
Burmanniaceae is a family of flowering plants, consisting of 99 species of herbaceous plants in eight genera.
Description
These plants are annual or perennial herbs, with generally unbranched stems, some lacking leaves. Some members of this fam ...
''
*: family ''
Orchideae
Orchideae is a tribe of orchids in the subfamily Orchidoideae. Historically, it was divided into 2 subtribes, Orchidinae and Habenariinae. The subtribe Orchidinae alone contains about 1,800 species. However, although some phylogenetic studies ha ...
''
''Microspermae'' in the Engler system
* order ''Microspermae''
*: family ''
Orchidaceae
Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant.
Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...